Once upon a time, French philosopher Henri Bergson was the most celebrated public intellectual in the world. People stood in long lines just to get a glimpse of his lectures. He took the culture by storm, and had enormous influence on early 20th century thought across multiple fields. Then, Europe descended into war, the zeitgeist changed, and little by little he faded away. And in a post-war modernist, materialistic age, there just wasn't been much room for this unique philosopher of consciousness, creativity, and time who brought meaning and mystery to the lecture halls of Europe and the salons of Paris.

Henri Bergson was thinking deeply about the philosophical implications of evolution all the way back in the 19th century. The originality of his thought has inspired an effort in a few corners of the academic world to revive and revisit his work and influence. Most recently, Dr. Emily Herring's new biography of Bergson, Herald of a Restless World, is garnering attention on both sides of the Atlantic. I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Herring to the Thinking Ahead.

On this episode of Thinking Ahead, we return to the fascinating subject of UFOs, or UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon) as they are sometimes called. I've already done a couple of podcasts on this topic (if you’d like a more introductory episode, I’d recommend listening to my interview with journalist Ross Coulthart). This conversation ventures down the UFO rabbit hole with author and journalist Keith Thompson, who has written two books on the subject, including his most recent The UFO Paradox: The Celestial and Symbolic World of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Keith approaches this complex and controversial issue as a big-picture thinker incorporating a number of disparate fields. We discuss the history of UFOs, recent revelations from the military, near death experiences (including Keith's own), and how questions around consciousness and spirituality intersect with UFOs. We even touch on John Mack's research into the abduction phenomenon. I’m thrilled to have him on the podcast to share an in-depth discussion of these ever-intriguing anomalies that continue to haunt and confound the modern world.

Regular listeners of this podcast may know that I have a special affinity for cats—house cats, certainly, but also the magnificent wild cats that still roam the American West. So when I learned recently that in my home state of Colorado, it’s still legal for trophy hunters to shoot hundreds of these beautiful creatures every year, I was horrified. Thankfully, Colorado’s big cats have a formidable champion in their corner: longtime animal welfare activist and author Wayne Pacelle. Wayne is one of the people behind a ballot initiative (Cats Aren’t Trophies) that will be put before voters this November to outlaw this practice, along with the trapping of bobcats for fur. When I found out about this initiative in a conversation with Wayne last Spring, I offered my support and immediately asked him to come on the podcast to talk about it, as well as his other work around the country.

When it comes to the evolution of human culture—an overarching theme on this podcast—there are few things that speak as loudly as our treatment of other sentient beings and the wild ecosystems of the planet we share. It’s a topic that is very close to my heart, and I can think of few people as well versed in this conversation than Wayne. He has had a remarkable career fighting for better treatment of animals—whether in our homes, in our agricultural systems, or in the wild, leading several animal rights organizations, and authoring two bestselling books, The Bond and The Humane Economy. Enjoy this conversation, spread the word, and if you live in Colorado, vote Yes on Prop 127 in November!